Just sold an item but noticed a stain!

[Lagoonablue]

Hi. Sold daughter's Brownie uniform today and while parceling up noticed a couple of small stains I hadn't noticed originally. Will try and wash them with vanish but if it didn't come out, what should I do?

Tell buyer and cancel the sale? Or reduce cost?

Try stain remover and if they don't come off, message buyer and describe the marks (probably small if you didn't notice first time round) just explain and offer to cancel if they want. If they went for a good amount knock off a little but if they went quite cheaply the buyer will probably have them anyway. If you tell them then you have been honest and fair. It happens to everyone I'm sure.

This has happened to me selling antique books- sometimes you don't notice small damage until you go to pack it, or it ages/warps in storage etc.

What I'd do is contact the buyer, be honest (it happens a lot, no need to feel bad about it) and offer at a reduced price. Almost all of my customers have said yes, proceed at the reduced price.

Ultimately the buyer should be able to cancel the sale if they wish, but I don't present this as the first option. Try to preserve the sale first; if they don't want it they'll tell you- then you offer to cancel.

Good luck, I know how annoying this can be :)

It's happened to me before, found a rip or a stain when packing something up.

Be honest, apologise profusely, offer to refund a bit of the money paid, and leave it to them to decide.

Thanks. She was due to pay £10 should I offer to sell for £6? Is that reasonable?

Sounds more than reasonable to me!

Is it for more than 1 item of the uniform? If the stain is not serious then I would say £8 is ok. Those uniforms can cost a lot of money and I am sure if you had listed with the stains you still would have got bids on it. Have a look at what other similar items go for. Suggest knocking a couple of pounds off and see what buyer says.

Explain the problem & wait for her to ask for a refund.
So far when I do that, they ask me to send it so they can see it properly, and then they are usually fine to take item as it is (no refund or discount required).

i've won auctions and only to be messaged by the seller to say that whilst ironing (for eg) they've burnt the piece and wont be able to send out but offered full refund

I let some cellotape stick to a vintage magazine prior to posting it out last week (arrrrrggghhh), I sent pic of damage to the buyer who was still keen to have it (phew).

Thanks for your help all. Am washing uniform again after using a Vanish stick. So we shall see.